The Goddess Minerva

The Goddess Minerva


The the arched panel mosaic of the goddess Minerva is found in the Great Hall of the Temple. It is located atop the staircase to the Main Reading Room's top tier, the Visitor's Gallery.

Though portrayed as the Minerva of Peace, Vedder's quote, on the panel next to the mosaic, states, "the peace and prosperity that she enjoys was attained only through warfare."
With the sun's rays shining brightly behind her,she holds in Her right hand a two-headed spear, symbolizing that, even thought the peaceful goddess' shield and helmet lay on the ground before her, her vigilant watch over those she protects never ceases.
In her left hand is a scroll. on which is written a list of the various fields of learning.

The owl of wisdom is perched on a low post in the left corner of the mosaic.
To the right of Minerva is a winged statue of Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory. She stands on a globe and holds a laurel wreath and palm branch, the symbols of victory and peace.



Inscribed below the mosaic is an exerpt from Horace's Ars Poetica: "Not unwilling, Minerva raises a monument more lasting than bronze."


artist: Elihu Vedder


The temple of Wisdom
Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building
Second Floor, East Corridor